With a quick start, Slugger DJ Stewart appears as a Darkhorse candidate on the first basis for pirates

DJ Stewart is proud to be an athlete, and he has the family tree as a selection in the first round 2015 to prove this. When he didn't get a starter in Baltimore, Stewart found that he had to defensively exhibit his sportiness.

“You see a lot of people who play several positions,” said Stewart Trilive. “I am not a Middle infielder, so the first basis was the only place I think I could play. I grew up as the first basis. Obviously it is different at this level. I am proud to be sporty. I grew up with several sports. I think it's something in my pocket. ”

Although the 230 pound steward played only a game with a 6-foot 6-foot candidate in his professional career in his professional career, he has become a Darkhorse candidate who plays the position after he has arrived in a minor league contract as a spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I definitely have a glove,” said Stewart. “It is obviously new to me, but I'm in need over there. … I signed here for a certain reason to give the team a chance and do everything to do this team. ”

The 31-year-old left-hander has a career of 328 percentages, 42 homes and 118 RBIs in 327 games, which are distributed in the majors in the majors, including the last two with the New York Mets.

Stewart used a strong season of 2023, in which he achieved an OPS of 0.840 and spread the absence of the designated Hitters JD Martinez last year on the opening day, but last season with four doubles, five Homern and 19 RBIs in 74 games.

Now Stewart hopes to fill the emptiness of the pirates at the first basis, the last month of Spencer Horwitz 'right -wing wrist surgery. That was the driving force for Stewart,

“I think I'm doing well when I have the opportunity,” said Stewart. “I've already shown that, and that's what I'm looking for – a chance.”

Stewart made an immediate impression in his first game with the pirates, hit a double with two runs in his first bat and then hit a solo homerun over the right field fence against Orioles on February 22.

“It's the first game, but you definitely want to see that balls fall,” said Stewart. “I think every player in the low season, you come and say: 'Will I ever get a goal again?' Hopefully you can see how this first one falls for me in the first inn.

The fact that the Homer came from Keegan Akin, one of his closest friends of his time in Baltimore, was a bit of fun. The best friends of women are not only the best friends, but their children are about the same age and playmates. So Stewart stared to laugh and stared similarly after taking it deep.

“It's funny, he wrote me an SMS and asked me where I was in the order before the game. He had the third inning and didn't know if we would face each other, ”said Stewart. “Then it was warmed up in the bullpen and we hunted a bit. We only laughed at after I hit Homerun. We understand that he will sometimes get me and I will sometimes get him. This is just part of this game. It is better to see how your friend laughs when something like this happens than about someone you don't like. ”

The first game stated a strong tone for Stewart, which with 1.096 ops, three doubles, the Homer and five RBIs in eight grapefruit League games .333 (6 for 18). On February 26, Stewart also had a two hits with an RBI in Atlanta on February 26. In the first run for the Pirates on Wednesday he drove against Toronto Blue Jay's 7: 6 victory three parking spaces to edit a full number before loading a bases to reach the first basis to drive in a cruz in Oneil.

Stewart has a trained eye, as a chase rate of 14.2% shows, and showed the patience to cover the record last season with 16% Walk rate. It didn't take long for Stewart's momentum to be the attention of the Pirate Manager Derek Shelton this spring.

“It's short. It is compact, ”said Shelton. “He has an idea of ​​what he is doing and he has the ability to bring the ball ahead and meet the fastball, which I think is important.”

Is just as important how Stewart can handle the leather. He played almost exclusively on the Outfield spots of the corner, with the exception of a game in the St. Louis Cardinals on May 6th. Stewart made a nice stop against Baltimore in Sarasota on Saturday, a sign of glove work, which he did in the back fields in Bradenton with Pirates -Bench coach Don Kelly and celebrations, coach Mendy Lopez.

“You did a good job and told me that I should be sporty and not too mechanical,” said Stewart on Wednesday in an interview with Sportsnet Pittsburgh. “Just be an outfield that plays the first basis. That is the biggest. If I have people who have played longer than I have played, I just try to get advice from you and get as much help as possible. ”

Stewart took the best advice to heart: “Be an athlete. Do not overcome it. Just be an athlete and attack it like an outfield. ”